he dragged
his heavy boots along with some difficulty, and often lifted up his
hands to prevent the unruly flaps of his coat from flying away behind
him. Valentine took but little further trouble about the future of his
child. He had tasted the idea of having a parson for his son to the
dregs, and would almost have been content had Ivo become a farmer after
all. Indeed, the older he grew the less willing was he to take any
trouble which carried him out of the beaten track of his daily toil.
Mother Christina, however, was a pious and resolute woman, who had no
mind to give up the idea which had once entered her head.

The chaplain lived next to the church. Mother and son went into the
church first, knelt down before the altar, and fervently spoke the
Lord's Prayer three times over. The soul of Mother Christina was full
of such feelings as may have visited the soul of Hannah when she
brought her son Samuel to the high-priest of the Temple at Jerusalem.
She had never read the Old Testament, and knew nothing of the story;
but the same thoughts came up in her mind by their own force and
virtue. Pressing her hands upon her bosom, she looked steadfastly at
her son as she left the church.

In the parsonage she set down her basket in the kitchen, and made the
cook a present of some eggs and butter. Then, being announced to the
chaplain, she advanced with short steps, dropping a shower of curtsies,
into the open parlor. He was a good-natured man, and regaled all his
visitors with sanctified speeches and gestures, during which he
constantly rolled his fat little hands in and out of each other. Mother
Christina listened attentively as if he had been preaching a sermon;
and when Ivo was admonished to be diligent and studious, the poor
little fellow wept aloud, he knew not why. The good man comforted and
caressed him, and the two went on their way composed, if not rejoicing.

Their next visit was to an old widow who lived near the "Staffelbaeck."
On the way, Ivo was treated to a "pretzel," which he devoured while
sitting behind Mrs. Hankler's stove and listening to the negotiations
between her and his mother. The good lady was a dealer in eggs and
butter, and an old business acquaintance of Mother Christina's. It was
agreed that Ivo should get his dinner at her house, and that Mrs.
Hankler was to receive therefor a certain quantity of butter, eggs, and
flour.

The moment Ivo had reached home, he threw off his coat, kicked the
bo